The real frenzy across the NHL usually happens on Canada Day, and this year has been no exception.

Jason Spezza was traded to the Dallas Stars by the Ottawa Senators for a package that included winger Alex Chiasson.

That deal simply set the deal for what came when free agency opened at 12 p.m.

Centre Paul Stastny, one of the coveted players on the market, left the Colorado Avalanche to sign with the St. Louis Blues for four years and $28-million US. The addition between the pipes makes a solid Blues team better, and they kept pace not only with the Stars and the acquisition of Spezza, but the Anaheim Ducks, who acquired Ryan Kesler last week.

Late afternoon, defenceman Matt Niskanen finally got around to putting his signature on a new contract, leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins to sign a seven-year, $40.25-million US deal with the Washington Capitals.

The Vancouver Canucks, mired in goaltending problems since the departures of Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo, managed to ink goalie Ryan Miller to a three-year, $18-million contract. Miller’s mediocre performance in the playoffs helped lead to the Blues early departure.

Defenceman Josh Gorges, meanwhile, wouldn’t accept a trade to the Maple Leafs, yet said yes to a deal that included the Buffalo Sabres. Going to the Montreal Canadiens is a second-round pick in 2016.

Several teams didn’t mind shelling out big dollars to players, including the Capitals, who signed 33-year-old blueliner Brooks Orpik to a five-year, $27.5-million US contract, and the New York Rangers, who got defenceman Dan Boyle for two years and $9 million.

And the Leafs threw three years and $9 million at defenceman Stephan Robidas, who will be 38 in March.